CHICO &GT;&GT; An unwelcome visitor left a Chico couple rattled and an 81-year-old woman with a new nickname Monday night.

It was about 9 p.m., when Jim Magill, 84, was taking his dog out to relieve itself before getting to bed.

Like every night, Magill opened the door to his home in the 1900 block of Hooker Oak Avenue and "Angel" dashed out, but as a bare-footed Magill stepped out of his front door he was met with a bite from a rattlesnake.

Magill screamed and his wife, Nancy Magill, ran to the door.

Within seconds, he was bent over shaking and in pain.

Nancy Magill knew she had to rush her husband of almost 62 years to the hospital, but before they left, she decided to bring the culprit along.

"There was this animal out there," she said. "I grabbed a box and put the snake in the box, taped it up and placed it in the car."

Nancy Magill said she didn't stop to think, her intuition took over and she reacted.

In a moment, people do what they think is right, and Nancy Magill figured it would be helpful to show the doctors what bit her husband.

"It's one of those things that raising kids, grandkids and great-grandkids teaches you," she said.

Nancy Magill placed a box sideways on the ground, used a broom to push the snake inside and secured it, she said.

"She used about 40 pounds of Scotch tape," her husband jokingly said.

Jim Magill, who was in serious condition after the bite, was placed in intensive care until he was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon.

He couldn't walk or even stand up, the couple said.

His left foot is still swollen and purple, but he said he's feeling better.

While at the hospital, Nancy Magill let staff know what caused her husband to be ill, but then informed them that the approximately 2-foot rattler was in her car and still alive.

Members of Enloe Medical Center's emergency room laughed and dubbed her the "rattlesnake wrangler," she said.

Although the 81-year-old mother of two never thought she'd earn that nickname, she said she's glad she was able to get treatment for her husband quickly.

Nancy Magill left the snake behind and she doesn't know what happened to it, but said she had no interest in bringing the reptile back to her home anyway.

"I didn't even get my box back," she said.

Since the incident, the Magills have searched their property for any other snakes, but they haven't found any.

However, from now on, both said they will look twice before taking a step, and they encourage others to be alert when they're walking.

Right now the rattlesnakes are out there, they warned.

The rattlesnake that bit Jim Magill was still young, but he said people shouldn't be fooled by the size. This one was "big enough to bite."